Round table discussion toward improving Muggle-Wizard relations

[kira_cho]

Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge would like to welcome all of you in this round table discussion toward improving Muggle-Wizard relations

Comments

[lilian_cho]

Name: lilian_cho
Occupation: College student/Free-lance journalist
Location: West Coast, United States

Question/Concern: For all Wizard and Witches, how are Muggleborns integrated into the Wizarding Society?

I have a nephew who have been manifesting Accidental Magic (clocks always malfunction around him), and my brother and sister-in-law are considering Hogwarts among other Wizarding schools. However, as the rest of our family are Muggles, we are concerned that this means he will be literally worlds apart from us for the rest of his life.

Do all Muggleborns end up staying in the Wizarding world? Or are there cases where they are successfully re-integrated into the Muggle society?

Thank you.

[androgynous88]

Well here in Ravenclaw the Muggleborns go along just fine with the Purebloods and the Half-bloods. Although there _are_ some resentment regarding things that are instinctive for the Wizarding-raised and nonsensical for the Muggleborns. Just about all the non-Muggleborns in Ravenclaw take Muggle Studies, because pursuit of knowledge, etc. etc.

Gryffindors are for the most part self-absorbed and they'd probably not even notice that your nephew's Muggleborn until the third year of school or something.

Hufflepuffs have non-discriminatory orgies are friendly to just about anyone, regardless of their blood status.

Your nephew probably won't end up in Slytherin (but don't quote me on that). If he does end up in Slytherin I would think he's equipped to deal with whatever his Housemates throw at him though. *shrug*

Um, the Muggleborns that I know are all students, so I don't know whether they all stay in the Wizarding world or re-enter Muggle society or reach a compromise somehow.

Hope that helps.

[lilian_cho]

Backtrack and explain to me what "Ravenclaw," "Gryffindor," "Hufflepuff" and "Slytherin" are, again?

Thanks nonetheless.

[stoppered_death]

Translated into the Vulgar Muggle, they are in order: "Swot", "Twat", "Prat", and "Cool".

Introduction

[rea_saint]

Name: Re'a Saint
Occupation: Chemist, Research Scientist
Location: The Pacific Northwest

Question/Concern:

1. How closely related are Potions, Alchemy, and Chemistry related?
2. How do wizards conduct their experiments?
e.g. Professor Snape was found to have scribbled in the margins of his potions textbook the more correct potion-making method. I'm curious whether this came about from repeated tests (as we scientists do) or by some form of magical intuition or sense.
3. How are potion formulas formed/discovered?
4. Since non-wizards can experience the effects of say, felix felicis, wouldn't it follow that given the proper recipe/method/ingredients, non-wizards can also brew potions? Has this been attempted

Re: Introduction

[androgynous88]

Mr. Saint, I think you're thinking too hard (a common Muggle ailment, it seems).

As regrettably we do not study Alchemy here in Hogwarts (we have enough trouble as it is with Leprechaun gold), I don't know how Alchemy compares to Potions and Chemistry.

Anthony Goldstein does have an older sister who goes to a Muggle college, and it seems Chemistry labs don't blow up anywhere as often as our Potions classes. Correction: Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff Double Potions blow up once a month at most. Slytherin-Gryffindor Double Potions blow up at least once a week, without fail.

#2 and #3 should be addressed to Professor Snape...

Curious, how did you draw the conclusion that non-wizards experience the effects of Felix Felicis?
I shall not presume to answer #4 lest Professor Snape kills me lest I give you inaccurate information.

Re: alchemy, Prince is the name of a Wizarding family, yes, but I don't know anyone at Hogwarts with that name, so I can't help you there.

Felix Felicis

[rea_saint]

I may be mistaken, but were there not cases of non-wizards buying or administered ludicrous and sometimes even potentially dangerous potions and experiencing its effects?

There appears to be a report somewhere about a Dudley Dursley who ate a special toffee that made his tongue grew, courtesy of the Weasley twins, I believe.

Although toffee isn't a potion, I would presume that it was in liquid form before it solidifies. Either way, it's at least a proof that non-wizards are affected just the same at least when ingesting magical substances.

Re: Felix Felicis

[stoppered_death]

Of course Muggles are affected by potions, just as they are affected by spells, and a very good thing it is too: if the Obliviation Squads were unsuccessful in their work, our world would be exposed to the Muggle world at large.

The genocide that followed would make their vaingloriously-named World Wars look like a street-corner squabble.

[burning_day]

Name: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Occupations: Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot
Location: Hogsmeade, Scotland

Question/Concern:

Are there any lemon-flavored marshmallows?

[lilian_cho]

Yes, there are lemon-flavored marshmallows.

Although I've only eaten plain marshmallows so far.

So Headmaster. how long has your obsession with lemons started? Is this something that afflicts all elderly Wizards?

[burning_day]

Thank you for the directions to that lovely Muggle shop, my dear. If you were a Hogwarts student, I would award you some House points for that. *twinkle*

My obsession with lemons started when I was very young, when Alberforth threw one of the fruits at me. So I don't think it afflicts all elderly Wizards, no.

[androgynous88]

Professor Dumbledore, Anthony Goldstein has "credit card" from his mother which you need to make purchases from Web sites.

And I hear from Padma that there's this store that sells lemon-flavored sugar in Muggle London.

[androgynous88]

Name: 宿黎 (Su Li)
Occupation: Fifth year Ravenclaw at Hogwarts
Location: Scotland, UK

Question/Concern:

To Muggles: What's the most famous brand of clothes in the Muggle world? If someone from the Wizarding world wants to branch out into Muggle fashion, what's the best way to go about doing it? Must they attend "fashion school" or some such?

To Witches/Wizards: We have integrated ties, shirts, trousers and skirts into the Hogwarts uniform. What are your thoughts on integrating Muggle underwear into Wizarding society? What about guards for Quidditch players?

Professor Dumbledore, I am earning ten extra points for Ravenclaw, right?

Fashion

[rea_saint]

Though not being a very fashionable person myself, it would appear that depending on your gender, social status, geographic location, sexual orientation, etc., there are quite a variety of brands to choose from.

If someone from the wizarding world wants to branch out into Muggle fashion... I think perhaps the Malfoy family would do quite well with simply "selling" their current fashion sense... Or is that not a Malfoy thing to do, hm...

Re: Fashion

[androgynous88]

I think perhaps the Malfoy family would do quite well with simply "selling" their current fashion sense...

Ah, you mean understated elegance is what sells in the Muggle world?

Re: Fashion

[rea_saint]

For executive men, I would think so.

For women, we might peek into Blaise Zabini's mother's wardrobe, I believe... But that's not information of which I'm privy to...

[quiet_watcher]

Name: Blaise Zabini
Occupation: Student, Hogwarts, and student reporter for the Daily Prophet
Location: Hogwarts, UK

Question/Concern:
How can purebloods and Muggleborns be better made to understand each other? With such vastly different backgrounds, can the cultural barriers between the two be breached? For example, purebloods always reach first to magic for their answer, and Muggleborns for a physical answer--can the two be reconciled?

[androgynous88]

For example, purebloods always reach first to magic for their answer, and Muggleborns for a physical answer--can the two be reconciled?

...as in hexes vs. punches?

I don't know, Zabini. Even the Muggleborns in Ravenclaws are unlikely to throw punches. We're more likely to sabotage notes instead.

[quiet_watcher]

Hexes vs. punches are the most blatantly obvious example.

You rather sound like you're describing a Slytherin, Li ... are you sure you were Sorted into the right House?

This extends beyond simple fighting techniques, though. Purebloods will reach for their wand first, to experiment, to fix things and find solutions. Muggleborns, however, are more likely to rely on physical, solid things. Two totally different paths of thinking, influenced by two totally different upbringings.

And sometimes, the two apart are not enough, yet no one is willing to ask the other for help. Or cooperate if another is asked. Thus the divide seems unbreachable.

[androgynous88]

Why of course, Zabini. The question is, are you?
Which is why I said notes, instead of body parts.

So what do you propose then, having a pre-Hogwarts Wizarding school?
...which is actually not a bad idea. Wizarding school in China starts at seven, IIRC.